Device for propelling bicycles



Nu. 62,666. J' HEIMLICH. Patented Mar. 2|, |899.

DEVICE FOR PBOPELLING BICYGLES.

(Application led Feb. 28, 1898..)

(No Model.)

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m: Naam: Przns co., vwnrauwo.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

N0. 62| ses. Patented M 2|,f|s99.

J. mamLlcH.v ar f' DEVICE FUR PRPELL'ING BICYLES.

(Application led Feb. 26, '1898.1

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No Model.)

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No, 62|,6s6. y Patented M'ar. 2|, |399.

J. HEmucH.

DEVIGE FOB PROPELLING BICYCLES.

(Application sied ren. se, 159s.) (No Model.) S-Sheets-Sheet 3.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HEIMLICH, OF OAK HARBOR, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY LILLY, OF ROCKY-RIDGE, OHIO.

DEVICE FOR PROPELLlNGl-BICYCLES.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,666, dated March 21, 1899.

Application led February 26, 1893. Serlllv- 671,828. (No modeLl To all whom t may concern: l

Beit known that I, JOHN HEIMLIOH, a citizen of thennited states, residing at oak Harbor, in the county of Ottawa and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Propelling Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

This invention relates to bicycle drivinggear, the object in view being' to dispense with the usual driving-chain and to provide a system of hydraulic driving mechanism whereby the power applied to the crank-axle may be transmitted to the axle of the driving-wheel. The system isv of such nature as to admit of the parts being proportioned so. as

to give any desired driving power and at the y same time regulate the speed of the drivingwheel axle with relation to the crank-axle.

In connection with the hydraulic drivinggear means are employed by which the relative speed of the driving-wheel may be increased or diminished, the said means being within ready reach and under the immediate control of the rider while in the saddle.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the su bjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features, details of construction, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafterfullydescribed, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a sufcient portion'of a bicycle to illustrate' the adaptation of the improved driving gear thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line a; :t of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View showing the manner of connecting the pipes with the pump-cylinder. Fig. 4 is a'sectional view through the wheel and motor-cylinder, said section being taken longitudinally of the driving -wheel axle.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of one of the- -view showing a modified form of motor on the driving-wheel axle, and Fig. 7 is also a sectional view showing another modification.

Similar n umerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the'views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the improved hydraulic driving mechanism is' shown as applied to an ordinary'safety.-I ibicycle, this being done for the sake of con- Evenience. It will, however, be understood :as the description proceeds that the driving Q mechanism hereinafter described may be futilized upon any form of foot-propelled Vethicle or in any place where it is desired to 4transmit rotary motion from one part to another part at a distant point.

In the drawings, 1 designates the crank-axle i of an ordinary safety-bicycle, to one end of `which is rigidly secured a wheel 2, provided along a portion of its rim with cogs 3 and along 7o v the remainder of its rim with a groove 4, in which a band or other flexible driving device 5 is adapted to lie, the said'band being secured at one end 6 to the rim. Journaled in a suitable bracket y7, secured to -and projecting from the seat-post 8 of the machine-frame, is a short shaft 9, upon one end of which is ,secured a p'zulley or guiding-sheave 10. The band 5 passes from the wheel 2 around the pulley or sheave 10'and is attached at its opposite end to ahalf-wheel or segm ent l1, having a grooved rim 12 to receive the band 5..

' The segment 11 is loose upon the axle 1 on the opposite end from the wheel 2. The axle 1 is also equipped at each end with a crank 13..

By means of the construction above described it will be seen that when one crank is depressed the wheel or segment of a wheel `connected to the crank-axle operates in connection with and upon the band or flexible con- 9o nection 5 to elevate the opposite crank. The cranks do not travel through a complete revolution, but oscillate up and down in advance of the crank-axle, and thus the most effective portion of the stroke is taken advantage of '95 for propelling the machine.

14 designates a pendent bracket connected to the machine-frame adjacent to the crankhanger and carrying at its lower end a chani nel or grooved guide 15, in which slides a re- Io vIO ciproeating rack-bar 16, formed on one end of a piston-rod l7,which enters and moves within a pump-cylinder 18, attached by means of brackets 19 to one of the rear-fork blades 20 of the machine-frame. 'Ihe rod 17 is provided at its rear end with a piston-head 21, and the forward end of the cylinder is equipped with a packing-gland 22 to form a water-tight joint. The driving-wheel 23 is mounted fast upon an axle 24, revolving in suitable ballbearings 25, secured to the fork ends of the machine-frame. Fast upon the axle 24 is a revolving piston-head 26, which revolves within a cylinder or casing 27, secured to the machine-frame in any suitable manner and made stationary. The end 28 of the axle 24 is polygonal, and the piston 26 is provided with a central polygonal opening to tit over the end of the axle, so that there will be no relative rotative movement between the axle and piston. The piston is prevented from slipping o the end of the axle by means of a set-screw 429, the head of which is received in a recess 30 in a detachable capor head 31, which fits in the outer end of the cylinder 27. inder 27 is provided at its inner end with a recessed oset 32, containing a suitable pack- 'ing and having a compressing-disk 33 screwthreaded therein. The disk 33 is provided in its outer face with two or more sockets toreceive a Spanner or wrench wherebyit maybe turned for compressing the packing material and forming a tight joint. The piston 26 is provided in its periphery, at opposite points,

with recesses 34, in which wings `or buckets The wings 35 are normally held outward by" means of expansivesprings 38. At the front end of the cylinder is an abutment 39, by which the wings are deflected, thesaid abutment' forming a cut-oii2 for the liquid. After theS wings pass the abutment or cut-off they are thrown outward again by their respective springs, so as to be acted upon by theliquid compressed and forced into the cylinder 27 by the action of the pump.

40 designates a supply-pipe or the pipe through which the liquid is forced from the pump to the cylinder of the motor, and 41 denotes the outlet or exhaust pipe through which the liquid passes from the cylinder 27 back to the pipe, it being the purpose of this invention to use the liquid over and over again. The pipes 40 and 41 connect at their rear ends to an elbow or loop 42. section in Fig. 2.) The pipe 40 enters the double elbow'at the lowermost point and the pipe 41 at the uppermost point. Connected to one lside of one of the elbows is a pipe 43, which leads forward to the rear end of the pump-cylinder-18. Connected to the oppo- The cyl- (Shown in site elbow is a short pipe 44, which extends forward and connects with the forward end of the pump-cylinder 18. Arranged adjacent to the upper and lower points of juncture of the elbows are check-valves 45 and 46, the said valves being automatic or adapted to be Ashifted by the liquid according to the direction in which the liquidl is moving. The valve 45 is constructed with heads 45 at each end and withwings 45 connecting the heads and separated so as to allow the water to pass back and forth. Within the valve-chamber are located diaphragms 45', spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the heads 45 and having openings through which the valve slides and through which the water passes back to thepump-cylinder. The valve 46 comprises a centrally-located head 46' and sets of wings 46, extending in opposite directions therefrom through openings in diaphragms 46" similar to those in the upper chamber. The central head 46 lies and works between the two diaphragms for allowing the liquid to pass from the pump-cylinder to the casing of the piston on the rear wheel.

From the above description it will be seen that when the piston-head 21 is thrust rearward the liquid in the rear end ofthe cylinder is forced through the pipe 43 into oneof the elbows, where it actsto throw both valves 45 and 46 toward the other elbow, whence it passes around the lower portion of one of the elbows, past the valve 46, and enters the supply-pipe 40, passing thence to the inside of the cylinder 27 and acting upon one or` both of the wings or `blades 35, thus imparting rotarymotion to the piston-head 26 and causing a forward rotation of the drivingwheel 23 of the machine. The liquidalready contained in the Vcylinder 27 passes through the exhaust-pipe 41 and past the valve 45 and then passes through the remaining elbow and enters the pipe 44, whence it passes to the forward end of the pump-cylinder and enters the space in advance of the piston-head 21. When the piston-head 21 reaches the limit of its throw in a rearward direction and` starts forward, the liquid in advance thereof is forcedthrough the pipe 44, thence into the elbow with'which said pipe connects, and, acting upon both valves 45 and 46, opens valve 46 and passes through the pipe 40, thus entering the cylinder 27 and acting upon IOO IIO

the cylinder-head in the manner above dei and driving-wheel axle may be properly proportioned.

Adjacent to the cylinder 27 the lpipes 40 and 4l are connected by a spherical casing 47, through which the liquid may escape from one pipe to another. In this cylindrical casing is arranged a valve or cock 48, provided with a stem which passes through a suitable packing-gland, the said stem having at one,

end a lever 49, provided at one end with an eye 50, to which is connected a spring 5l, attached also to the casing or cylinder 27, so as to hold the valve 48 normally open. A cord or other iiexible connection 52 is also attached to the eye 50, the said connection 52 being designed to pass forward to the handle-bar or other convenient part of the machine, Where it may be reached by the rider for vibrating the lever 49 and opening or closing the valve or cock 48. just described is to allow a certain percentage of the liquid to pass directly from the su pply-pipe 40 to the exhaust-pipe 4l in starting the machine when the power of the rider is not suiiicient to propel the driving-wheel two or more revolutions to one of the crank-axle. When the valve 48 is open or partially open, a portion of the liquid will pass therethrough, while the remainder of the liquid will act upon the piston-head 26 and cause the rotation of the driving-wheel of the machine. As the rider attains speed the valve 48 may be allowed to close, and thereupon the full action of the liquid on the piston-head 26 may be utilized'.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modication in the form of the cut-off. In this instance the, cut-0E shown at 53 is movable vand is of el,

as to thrust the cut-off away from the pistonhead and allow said wing to pass by it, afi er which the cut-o moves back into contact with the periphery of the piston-head in a manner that will be readily understood; When the pivoted cut-off is employed, a suitable casing 56 is employed, into which the cut-off may fold or move when it is acted upon by the wing 55.

In Fig. 7 another modification of the piston-head and wings is shown. In this figure the wings shown at 57 are straight and disposed tangentially to the piston-head 26 and are carried by the outer straight ends 58 of a pair of U-shaped springs 59, secu-red at their outer ends to the head 26. These wings con- I tact with and are thrust inward by means of a iixed abutment or cut-'oif 60 similar to that, 39, shown-in Fig. l.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, durable, and effective hydraulic driving-gear for bicy- The purpose of the construction rrather an advantage, especially in starting the wheel, at which time the rider has not sufficient power to propel the driving-wheel at a speed equal to two or three times that of the crank-axle. It is for this reason that I have provided means for allowing a portion of the liquid to pass directly from the supply to the exhaust pipe without acting on the pistonhead of the motor. that any one of the several forms of pistonheads may be employed upon the rear or driving wheel of the machine. The preferred form, however, is shown in Fig. 1. and other changes in the forni, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In powertransmitting mechanism, a pump-cylinder, a reciprocating piston therein,

It will also be apparent These a revolving piston-head, a cylindrical casing in which said head is mounted, aout-o within said casing, a supply-pipe leading from one end of the pump-cylinder Jto-the cylindrical casing at one side of said cut-0E, an exhaustpipe leading from the opposite side of said cut-off to the opposite end of the pump-casing, an elbow at the junction of said pipes,

and check-valves within said elbow, substantially as described.

2. In power transmitting mechanism, a pump-casing, a reciprocating piston mounted therein, means for actuating said piston, a cylindrical casing located at a distant point, a revolving piston-head therein provided with a Wing, an abutment or cut-off vwithin said cylindrical casing, adouble elbow located at a point intermediate the pump and cylindrical casing, supply and exhaust pipes leading from said double elbow to the cylindrical casing and communicating therewith on opposite sides of the cut-off, pipes leading from said double elbow to opposite ends of the pump-casing, and self -actuating valves arn ranged within the double elbow for directing the liquid through the supply-pipe and allowing it to escape from the exhaust-pipe back to the pump-casing, substantially as described.

3. -The combination with a foot-propelled vehicle, of a crank-axle, grooved segments mounted thereon, a guiding sheave or pulley journaled on the machine-frame, a flexible connection attached at its opposite ends to said segments and passing around said guiding-pulley, propelling-cranks on said axle, a piston-rod having teeth meshing with cogs on a wheel'on the crank-axle, a piston-head carried by said rod, a pump-cylinder in which the piston-head reciprocates, a hydraulic motor on the driving-wheel of the machine, and tubular connections between said motor and vfran1e,tubul:au connections between the pump and Vmotor,.a rack-bar attached to the pistonrod of the pump, a guiding-bracket foil said 1ack-bar,an1utilated gear-Wheel on the crankaxle meshing with said rack-bar and having a portion of its rim grooved, a grooved segment on the opposite endlof the crank-axle,

a guiding-pulley journaled on the machineframe, and a flexible connection attached at its ends to the wheel and segment, andl running around said pulley, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

In testimony whereot1 I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HEIMLICII.

Witnesses:

HARRY LILLY, D. HEUMAN. 

